Child moving magnetic strips
Inclusive workshops with young musicians toward a new musical composition and multimedia performance culminating in a public performance at the V&A Museum of Childhood on 20 March 2009.
Participants: 60 young musicians, aged between 11and 18, from one mainstream and two special schools in the borough of Tower Hamlets and from the Roundhouse project in Camden.
Artists: Ruth Catlow (Artistic Director and Co-director, Furtherfield.org); Kerry Andrew and Ed Farmer (Lead Composers); Nick Wilsdon (Music Technologist); Nick Laessing (Media Artist); Melanie Clifford, Victoria Oruwari and Anya Ustaszewski (Associate Musicians)
Connecting Across Difference was a season of creative workshops with young musicians from mainstream and special schools in the borough of Tower Hamlets and from The Roundhouse Project in Camden led by a team of composers, artists, musicians and technologists.
On Friday 20 March, Connecting Across Difference, culminated in a public performance by over 60 young people of a new performance piece , 'The Spell', at the V&A Museum of Childhood.
During the workshops students used cutting edge assistive technology and custom made experimental instruments, as well as traditional instruments and song. This was an excellent opportunity for young people of differing abilities and musical experience to be involved in the development and performance of the final piece, in unique and exciting ways.
Connecting Across Difference-The Spell was inspired by visits to the Museum of Childhood and imaginative and playful explorations of the challenges and excitement of encountering and coming to know people who are different; who speak differently, have different ambitions, interests, skills and abilities, or who have different traditions and histories. These ideas are played out in the narrative of the piece, a journey unfolds where creatures from different worlds go on a musical adventure to discover new ways to talk and play together using old and new instruments. The sculptural installation provided a visual analogue to the new musical performance.
The project blog www.connectingacrossdifference.net made it possible for participants from different school groups to share their work in the form of images, video and sounds. This enabled them to respond to and work with each others' musical ideas throughout the project towards a final performance that reflects their diverse musical enthusiasm and talents.
The blog now displays some images from the final performance as well as images, videos and audio recordings from workshops. http://connectingacrossdifference.net
If you would like to know more about Furtherfield.org's Participation and Learning programme or to receive a DVD of the final performance please contact Ruth at ruth.catlow@furtherfield.org
Partners: Drake Music, Roundhouse, Museum of Childhood, THAMES, Arts Council England, Foundation for new music
Related links: Connecting Across Difference blog
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